Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CFO 8163 ~
- 1- 20~9198
l Ink Jet Recording Apparatus
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet
recording apparatus.
Related Background Art
Conventionally, there are ink jet recording
apparatuses comprising recovery units for removing
wet ink on the surface having an array of discharge
ports caused by the ink mist occurring in discharging
the ink from recording head, or the satellite ink
occurring in refilling the ink, and the suction
residual ink occurring in the recovery process such
as the suction. This recovery apparatus is mainly
comprised of a suction unit, for example, for forcing
the ink to be discharged from the discharge port, and
a wiping unit for wiping and cleaning the discharge
port array face. In order to make the wiping (or
cleaning) of the discharge port array face
(hereinafter referred to as a discharge face) for an
ink jet recording head having a plurality of
discharge ports, for example, the wiping unit is
constituted in such a manner as to scrapingly wipe
the discharge port array face with a blade made of an
elastic material placed directly against the
discharge face while moving the blade relative to
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'" 20~91~8
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1 the ink jet recording head, to thereby clean the
discharge port and its surrounding to hold the
stability of discharging.
Here, taking an example of ink deposition on
the discharge face which may appear with the suction
recovery, a conventional cleaning operation will be
described with reference to Fig. 29.
A carriage 902 having an ink jet recording
head 901 is carried on a main scan rail 903, and
attached movably in a print direction (direction of
arrow C). If the discharge port of the ink jet
recording head 901 may be clogged, a holder 905
having gum caps 904 forming a closed system for the
head is moved in a direction of arrow a by driving
means, not shown, so that the gum caps 904 are
brought into contact with the discharge face 901a of
the ink jet recording head 901 and stopped at a
position where the closed system is created. In this
state, the suction recovery is performed via tubes
906 with a suction pump 907. The ink pulled out from
the ink jet recording head 901 due to the suction is
transported via a tube 908 into a waste ink
processing member 909. After the suction recovery,
the holder 905 having the gum caps 904 are retracted
in the direction of arrow b by the driving means. At
this time, ink droplets I pulled out from nozzles may
~;~ remain on the discharge port 901a of the ink jet
,
.,,~,~ .. ....
20~9~
1 recording head 901. The carriage 902 having the ink
jet recording head 901 is moved in the direction of
arrow C ~A) state], the wiping for the discharge
port 901a is performed with a gum blade 910 carried
by a blade holder 911 [(B) state~, whereby ink
droplets I on the discharge face 901 are removed from
the discharge face 901a.
However, to improve the cleaning performance
for the discharge face of ink jet recording apparatus
and stabilize the discharge characteristics in a long
term service, there are conventionally following
problems particularly in a color recording apparatus
having a cartridge-type head or a plurality of heads.
The first problem is that the ink
accumulating in a gap between the head and the
carriage may cause an adverse effect.
That is, there is a fear that in wiping ink
droplets remaining on the discharge face of head
after the print or suction, the ink may enter the gap
between the head and the carriage, as shown in the
(B) state of Fig. 29, and the accumulating ink may
drip after a long term of service or scatter away due
to the engagement with the blade, thereby polluting a
print face or back face of print sheet. Also,
there is a further fear that when the accumulating
ink may contain dust or thicken, it may be
retransferred onto the blade in cleaning to enter
2~591 98
1 the discharge ports of the head downstream in the
wiping direction, thereby causing a print deflection
or undischarge. Further, the undischarge owing to
intermixed dust or thickened ink may exert the
adverse effect on energy generating elements for use
in discharging the ink te.g., scorching of heat
generating element).
Second, there is a problem of the adverse
effect due to the swept ink in wiping.
That is, most of recent ink jet recording
heads have a plurality of discharge ports arranged,
in which the wiping is carried out with a wider blade
than a discharge port array range, but a considerably
greater amount of ink droplets may remain if the
number of discharge ports increases, and tends to
remain on the discharge port array face downstream of
the blade in the wiping direction. If ink droplets
remaining on this portion may be fixed in a long term
service, an failure of enclosing a cap portion may
occur. If this occurs, the print deflection or
undischarge is likely to occur due to capping failure
with the non-used recording head, and further an
failure of suction or wiping may arise.
Further, thirdly, with the apparatus having a
plurality of heads corresponding to the inks
differing in the color tone, if the wiping is made
for such heads in sequence, there is a fear that the
.
2 ~ 8
1 adhering ink (wet ink) to the discharge face in the
vicinity of discharge ports of the head upstream of
the wiping may be transferred onto the blade in
wiping after the ink suction or print, and the inks
different in the color may enter discharge ports of
the head downstream thereof. Thus, the color mixture
of diff$rent ink colors or the undischarge failure
due to the mixture of different components may occur.
Further, fourthly, there is a problem
associated with the exchange of a cartridge type
head. That is, when the cartridge type head is
exchanged, the operator may dirty his hands or
clothes with the exchange of the head if the head is
polluted with the adhering ink for the above reason.
On the other hand, in order to make the
recording at high precision or with high quality, it
is required to reduce the dispersion between product
heads as least as possible. To meet this
requirement, a method has been proposed in which data
concerning the uneven density for each head is
measured in fabricating the ink jet head, and the
correction data for correcting the driving condition
of head or various characteristics for the image
processing are prewritten into a semiconductor memory
(e.g., ROM) which is mounted on the product, thereby
controlling the discharge and improving the previous
problem.
2~5~198
1 Though the cleaning of discharge ports is an
important factor for improving the recording quality
in the ink jet recording as previously described, the
wiped out lnk may be scattered away with the
restoring force of a cleaning blade due to its
elasticity which may be separated from discharge port
formation face, in cleaning the discharge port
formation face with the wiping of the cleaning blade.
Thus, there is a fear that the apparatus may be
internally polluted with such scattered ink, or the
ink may flow around the side face of head, and stick
to the memory device provided on the head, causing a
malfunction or breakdown.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to
provide recording means which can resolve those
problems and attain a high quality of recording, and
an ink jet recording apparatus with said recording
means mounted thereon.
In order to resolve the aforementioned
problems, the present invention provides an absorbing
member for wiping out the ink adhering to a cleaning
blade between recording heads. In particular, the
absorbing member is disposed between each recording
head to clean the blade while at the same time
cleaning the discharge port face of recording head.
2~91 ~
l Also, the absorbing member between recording heads
may be mounted on the side face of recording head, or
on the portion between each recording head mounting
unit of a carriage for mounting the recording head.
The present invention has been proposed to
accomplish the aforementioned objects, in which a
view has been obtained that an ink permeation
preventing member provided in the neighborhood of the
discharge port formation face and on the side face of
head can offer the favorable effect in order to
clean excellently a discharge port formation face of
recording head without the occurrence of the ink
sticking to a semiconductor memory or the ink mist
flying within the apparatus.
On the basis of such a view, the present
invention provides recording means having integrally
a recording head unit having discharge ports for
discharging the ink and ink channels communicating to
said discharge ports and leading the ink thereto,
and an ink tank unit for storing the ink to be
supplied to the recording head unit, characterized
in that said recording head unit comprises a device
.,
for storing the parameter information concerning the
ink discharge characteristics, and a protective
member disposed on a side face area adjacent to said
discharge port formation face for preventing the ink
from flowing around.
20~919~
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1 Also, there is provided recording means
having integrally a recording head unit having a
device for storing the parameter information
concerning the ink discharge characteristics, as well
as having discharge ports for discharging the ink and
ink channels communicating to said discharge ports
and leading the ink thereto, and a protective member
disposed on the area adjacent to said discharge port
formation face for preventing the ink from flowing
around, and an ink tank unit for storing the ink to
be supplied to the recording head unit, characterized
by comprising a recording head cartridge mounted on
the apparatus so as to be freely detachable
therefrom, a support member having an electrical
lS connecting portion for passing a recording signal to
said recording head cartridge mounted, and a cleaning
member disposed on a region out of the recording area
with said recording head cartridge for cleaning said
discharge port formation face while being in direct
contact with said discharge port formation face.
With such a constitution, it is possible to
provide highly reliable recording means capable of
attaining a high quality of recording, and an ink jet
~: recording apparatus with the recording means mounted,
:~ 25 while preventing the ink mist from scattering within
the apparatus, as well as preventing the flying ink
from sticking to a semiconductor memory or electrical
'
2~ 8
g
l contact point mounted on an ink head cartridge.
Also, the present invention has been proposed
to accomplish the aforementioned objects, in which
a view has been obtained that the adhering ink on the
blade can be wiped out more surely by setting a blade
cleaning mode. On the basis of this view, the
present invention provides an ink jet recording
apparatus having a cleaning member for cleaning a
discharge port face of a recording head for recording
with the discharge of the ink, characterized by
comprising a cleansing member for cleansing said
cleaning member while being in contact with said
cleaning member, and means for setting a first
cleaning mode of cleaning said discharge port face
and a second cl~aning mode of cleansing said cleaning
member with said cleansing member.
That is, porous absorbing members are
provided on a carriage having recording heads mounted
thereon, particularly, on the ~ortion before and
after a recording head in the cleaning direction, so
that the ink transferred to the blade in wiping a
previous recording head is absorbed into its
absorbing member not to cause any trouble such as
residual ink or mixed color to occur in the recording
head to be wiped next, and further a blade cleaning
mode switch is provided or a blade dedicated cleaning
mode is set so that the blade cleaning mode may be
2 0 ~ 8
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l made effective for every predetermined number of
sheets.
This blade cleaning mode is one in which the
penetrating amount of the blade is set to be deeper
than at the ordinary wiping, and the cleaning is
performed for a wider range than that placed into
contact with the blade at the wiping of predetermined
intervals, in a single direction or both directions
by a predetermined number. With such blade cleaning
mode, it is possible to remove residual ink on the
blade more fully, which can not be absorbed into the
absorbing member at the normal wiping, and accomplish
a more reliable wiping.
Further, the present invention provides an
ink jet recording apparatus for recording with the
discharge of the ink onto a recording medium,
characterized by comprising a wiping member for
wiping by engaging a face of said recording head
provided with said discharge ports each having a
shape not to be in line symmetry about a
predetermined axis, and wiping direction defining
means for defining the wiping direction so that said
wiping member may make the wiping from shorter to
longer side of two discharge port peripheral length
components lying on both sides of said predetermined
axis with respect to a line segment having the
maximum length with which said predetermined axis
3 1 ~ g
l is intercepted by a contour line oE said discharge
port.
Here, the predetermined axis is taken as an
axis perpendicular to said wiping direction.
The discharge port may be shaped as a
polygon, or a polygon having rounded corners.
When the discharge port is shaped as a
trapezoid having an upper base and a lower base
parallel to said predetermined axis, the line segment
of the maximum length is equal to the lower base, so
that the shorter discharge port peripheral length
component is the lower base, and the longer discharge
port peripheral length component is the upper base
plus two oblique lines.
On the other hand, the present invention
provides a recording head having discharge ports for
the discharge of the ink onto a recording medium,
each discharge port being of a shape not in line
symmetry about a predetermined axis~ characterized in
that the face of the recording head having said
discharge ports is wiped by engagement with the
wiping member from shorter to longer side of two
discharge port peripheral length components lying on
both sides of said predetermined axis with respect to
a line segment having the maximum length with which
said predetermined axis is intercepted by a contour
line of said discharge port.
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1 According to the present invention, owing
to the ability of determining the wiping direction
suitable for the shape of a discharge port, an ink
jet recording head provided with discharge ports each
having a complex shape or special shape in
consideration of the stabilization of discharge
characteristics, and liquid channels, makes it
possible to prevent dust or thickened ink from
returning inward to the discharge ports with the
wiping, as well as reducing the pulling out of the
ink from the discharge ports in wiping and the color
mixture in wiping a plurality of heads, so that the
image quality can be stably maintained, with reduced
recording deflection or undischarge, by realizing
lS the stabilization in the discharge characteristics of
the head as well as the implove --t of the
reliability. In particular, when the discharge port
is formed as a polygon (or a polygon having rounded
corners), there is a great effect in wiping the;ink
jet recording head.
- Further, the present invention is aimed to
resolve the above-mentioned problems, and comprises
a discharge portion for discharging the ink to a
recording medium, characterized in that an end face
2S of said absorbing member is convex relative to an end
face of said discharge portion, and/or the end face
of said discharge portion adjacent to said absorbing
.
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2~31~
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1 member i5 concave relative to the end face of said
absorbing member.
Also, an ink jet head cartridge of the
present invention is characterized in that an ink
jet recording head has integrally an ink tank for
storing the ink to be supplied to said head.
Also, an ink jet recording apparatus of the
present invention is characterized by comprising a
recording head, a mounting member for mounting said
recording head, a wiping member engageable with an
end face of said discharge portion and an end face
of said absorbing member, and wiping direction
defining means for defining the wiping direction so
that said wiping member may engage the end face of
said absorbing member after engaging the end face
of said discharge portion.
Further, an ink jet recording apparatus of
the present invention is characterized by comprising
a recording head having a discharge portion for
discharging the ink to a recording medium and a first
absorbing member provided in the vicinity of said
discharge portion, a mounting member for mounting
said recording head, a second absorbing member
provided on said mounting member adjacent to and in
the vicinity of the first absorbing member, a wiping
member engageable with said discharge portion, said
first absorbing member and said second absorbing
2 ~ 8
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l member, and wiping direction defining means for
defining the wiping direction so that said wiping
member may engage said first absorbing member after
engaging said discharge portion, and then said second
absorbing member.
The discharge portion has means for
generating the heat energy to cause the film boiling
in the ink as the energy useful for discharging the
ink.
The recording head is in the form of a head
cartridge having integrally an ink tank for storing
the ink to be supplied to said discharge portion.
Further, said mounting member can mount a
plurality of recording heads, each of which is
lS mounted so that said absorbing ~ 'er is disposed
in the same direction, or said second absorbing
- ber is disposed downstream of each of said
recording heads in the wiping direction.
Here, said plurality of recording heads can
20~ be provided corresponding to the inks different in
the color tone.
Further, a cleaning method of the present
invention is characterized in that for a recording
head having a discharge portion for discharging the
ink to a recording member and a first absorbing
member provided in the vicinity of said discharge
:
~ portion, after the cleaning with said wiping member
2 ~
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1 engaging said discharge portion, said wiping member
is caused to engage said first absorbing member, and
then said second absorbing member provided on a
mounting member for said recording head to be
adjacent to said first absorbing member.
Here, said wiping member can be used in the
continuous operation for a plurality of recording
heads and a plurality of second absorbing members.
According to the present invention, it is
possible to clean the wiping member in such a manner
as to cause the wiping member to engage an absorbing
member disposed in the vicinity of the discharge
portion of recording head, after wiping the discharge
portion, or an absorbing member provided on a head
lS mount such as carriage. Also, it is possible to
perform the absorbing operation of the ink more
securely by making the absorbing member on the head
side convex, and/or the end face on the discharge
portion concave.
Accordingly, as impurities having the adverse
effect on the head such as dust or thickened or fixed
ink adhering to the wiping member or cap can be
removed beforehand, and efficiently, an excellent
effect can be exhibited against conventional troubles
such as a trouble of the ink accumulating in the gap
between head and carriage, a trouble of the ink swept
in wiping, the color mixture in wiping a plurality
2~19~
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1 of heads, or the pollution of the operator in
exchanging the cartridge head, with an improved
durability and print characteristic.
Also, the present invention is provided with
S a discharge portion for discharging the ink to a
recording member and an absorbing member provided
in the vicinity of said discharge portion,
characterized in that assuming that the ink capacity
of ink tank for storing the ink to be supplied to
said discharge portion is I[g], and the volume of
said absorbing member is A[cm3], the relation of
1/15000 < A/I < 1/5 stands.
Here, assuming that the weight of ink to be
usable for recording among the ink stored within
15 said ink tank is L*[g], the relation of 1/12500
A/I* < 3/10 stands.
Also, said absorbing member can be made of
a material having a swelling rate of 0.02~ or less in
absorbing the liquid.
Further, said absorbing member can be made
of a material having a liquid absorbing rate of 30
to 60%.
Further, an ink jet recording apparatus of
the present invention is characterized by comprising a
recording head having a discharge portion for discharging
the ink to a recording medium and an absorbing member
~ provided in the vicinlty of said discharge portion, a
:
,'
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- 17 -
l mounting member for mounting said recording head, a
wiping member engageable with ~aid discharge portion
and said absorbing member, and wiping direction
defining means for defining the wiping direction so
that said wiping member may engage said absorbing
member after engaging said discharge portion.
In addition, a cleaning method of recording
head according to the present invention is
characterized in that for a recording head having a
discharge portion for discharging the ink to a
recording member and an absorbing member provided
in the vicinity of said discharge portion, after
cleaning with said wiping member engaging said
discharge portion, said wiping member is caused to
engage said absorbing member.
Here, said wiping member can be used in the
continuous operation for a plurality of recording
heads.
According to the present invention, it is
possible to clean the wiping member in such a manner
as to cause the wiping member to engage the absorbing
member after wiping of the discharge portion, with
the absorbing member provided adjacent to the
discharge portion of recording head.
Accordingly, as impurities having the adverse
effect on the head such as dust or thickened or fixed
ink adhering to the wiping member or cap can be
2~59~
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l removed beforehand, and efficiently, an excellent
effect can be exhibited against conventional troubles
such as a trouble of the ink accumulating in the gap
between head and carriage, a trouble of the ink swept
in wiping, the color mixture in wiping a plurality of
heads, or the pollution of the operator in exchanging
the cartridge head, with an improved durability and
print characteristic.
Further, according to the present invention,
it is possible to derive the optimum condition on the
constitution for the absorbing member in the respect
of size, function and cost, by making clear the
swelling rate and the liquid absorbing rate of
absorbing member provided on the head, as well as the
relation between the ink weight within the ink tank,
the recordable ink weight, and the size of absorbing
member.
The present invention has been achieved in
the light of the above-mentioned problems, and
comprises a recording head having a discharge portion
for discharging the ink to a recording medium and an
absorbing member provided in the vicinity of said
discharge portion, and a wiping member engageable
with said discharge portion and said absorbing
member, characterized in that the following relation
can stand, the range of discharge port array < the
width of wiping member _ the width of absorbing member.
20~ 9~
-- 19 --
1 Further, there is provided a mounting member
for mounting the head, wherein said member can mount
a plurality of recording heads, each of which is
mounted so that said first absorbing member is
disposed in the same direction, or said second
absorbing member is disposed downstream of each of
said recording heads in the wiping direction.
Here, said plurality of recording heads can
be provided corresponding to the inks different in
the color tone.
According to the present invention, it is
possible to cleanse the wiping member more surely in
such a manner that with the appropriate dimensions,
an absorbing member is disposed in the vicinity of
the discharge portion for the recording head, and the
wiping member is caused to engage the absorbing
member after wiping the discharge portion, and
further engage an absorbing member provided on the
head mount such as carriage.
Accordingly, as impurities having the adverse
effect on the head such as dust or thickened or fixed
ink adhering to the wiping member or cap can be
removed beforehand, and efficiently, an excellent
effect can be exhibited against conventional troubles
such as a trouble of the ink accumulating in the gap
between head and carriage, a trouble of the ink swept
in wiping, the color mixture in wiping a plurality of
20~198
- 20 -
1 heads, the pollution of the operator in exchanging
the cartridge head, with an improved durability and
print characteristic.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an
external constitution for a head cartridge mountable
on a carriage of an ink jet recording apparatus in
one example.
Fig. 2 is a plan view for explaining the
joining relation between a base plate and PCB in a
head unit of the head cartridge.
Fig. 3 is a typical perspective view of the
ink jet recording apparatus.
lS Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing a
detailed constitutional example of a recovery unit.
Fig. 5 is an explanation view for explaining
the wiping and blade cleaning operation for a head
unit of the head cartridge in one example.
Fig. 6 is a typical perspective view for
explaining the same operation.
Figs. 7A and 7B are partial enlarged views
of Fig. 6 for explaining the same operation.
Fig. 8 is an explanation view showing another
constitutional example of a head unit wiped portion
and a blade cleaning portion.
Fig. 9 is an explanation view showing a
:
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- 21 -
l further constitutional example.
Fig. 10 is an explanation diagram showing
the relation between the print duty and the amount
of wet ink, which is one factor for determining the
dimensions of an absorbing member provided on the
head unit.
Fig. ll is an explanation view for explaining
the wiping and blade cleaning operation for a head
unit of a head cartridge in another example of the
present invention.
Fig. 12 is a typical perspective view for
explaining the same operation.
Figs. 13A and 13B are partial enlarged views
of Fig. 11 for explaining the same operation.
Fig. 14 is an explanation view for explaining
the relation between the range of ink discharge port
array, the cap width, the blade width, the width of
head side absorbing member and the width of carriage
side absorbing member in the example.
Fig. 15 is an explanation view showing the
head unit in which an ink discharge port array face
is concave as the variation of Fig. 8.
;~ Fig. 16 is an explanation view showing the
head unit in which an ink discharge port array face
is concave as the variation of Fig. 9.
Fig. 17 is an explanation view for explaining
the relation between the range of ink discharge port
" ' ' ' . ,
.'' ., ' '
.
23~198
- 22 -
l array, the cap width, and the first and second blade
widths.
Fig~ 18 is a typical perspective view for
explaining a head cartridge having the constitution
different in the carriage moving direction and the
wiping direction.
Fig. 19 is an explanation view for explaining
the wiping direction for the discharge port of a
trapezoidal shape.
Fig. 20 is an explanation view for explaining
the wiping as well.
Figs. 2lA and 2lB are explanation views for
explaining the result of different wiping directions.
Figs. 22A and 22B are a side cross-sectional
15 view and an elevational view for explaining the
wiping direction for the discharge port of another
shape.
Fig. 23 is an explanation view for explaining
the wiping as well.
Figs. 24A and 24B are explanation views for
explaining the wiping direction for the discharge
port of another shape.
Figs. 25A and 25B are enlarged explanatian
views for explaining the wiping operation.
Fig. 26 is a schematic view for explaining
the operation of cleaning mode.
Fig. 27 is a schematic view for explaining
20~9198
1 another cleaning operation.
Fig. 28 is a schematic perspective view of
a cleaning dedicated cartridge.
Figs. 29A and 29B are views for explaining
the behavior in the conventional cleaning.
DETAI~ED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS --
Examples
The present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the drawings.
(1) Head cartridge
Fig. 1 shows one constitutional example of
a head cartridge mountable on a carriage of an ink
jet recording apparatus in this example. The
cartridge in this example has an ink tank unit 200
and a head unit 100 integrated together, the head
unit 100 being mountable on the ink tank unit 200 as
will be described later. A wiring connector 102
for outputting an ink residual amount detection
;~ 20 signal as well as receiving a signal for driving an
ink discharge portion 101 of the head unit L00 is
provided at a position juxtaposed with the head unit
100 and the ink tank unit 200. Accordingly, the
height H of the cartridge can be lowered in the
attitude with the cartridge mounted on the carriage
as thereinafter described, and further the thickness
of the cartridge can be thinner. Thereby, it is
::
2~3~8
- 24 -
l possible to make smaller the carriage to arrange
cartridges side by side, as will be described in Fig.
19 .
The head cartridge can be mounted onto the
carriage by grasping a knob 201 provided on the ink
tank unit 200, with the discharge portion 101 facing
downward. And in mounting, a pin provided on the
carriage side engages a pin engaging portion 103 of
the head unit 100 so as to position the head unit
10 100.
The head cartridge in this example has an
absorbing member 104 juxtaposed with the ink
discharge portion 101, which serves to clean a member
for wiping and cleansing a surface of the ink
discharge portion 101. An atmosphere communicating
port 203 for introducing the air in consuming the ink
is provided in an almost central portion of the ink
tank unit 200.
Fig. 2 is a bottom view showing a base plate
20 111 and PCB 115 integrated together, the PCB 115
having a contour indicated by a bold solid line and
the base plate 111 indicated by a contour with the
hatching. As shown, an IC 128 in the ROM form for
storing the information intrinsic to the head, for
example, the proper driving condition for
electricity-heat converters, the ID number, the ink
color information, the driving condition correction
2~5~198
- 25 -
1 data (head shading (HS) data), the PWM control
condition and a condenser 129 are disposed on the
side of a connection surface between the PCB 115 and
the base plate 111, and at a position corresponding
to a cut-away portion lllA of the base plate 111.
Hence, if the height of mounting the IC is less than
the thickness of the base plate 111, the IC will not
protrude over the surface when the PCB 115 and the
base plate 111 are joined. Accordingly, in the
fabrication process, it is unnecessary to take into
consideration a storage form corresponding to its
protrusion.
(2) Outline of recovery unit
A recovery unit in this example will be
described below.
Fig. 3 is a typical view of an ink jet
recording apparatus for explaining a disposed region
and the schematic constitution for a recovery unit of
the ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the recovery
unit is positioned at a home position on the
right-hand side in this example.
In the recovery unit, 300 is a cap unit
provided corresponding to each of a plurality of
cartridges C having a head unit 100, which cap unit
is slidable in the right and left directions in the
figure along with the movement of the carriage 2, as
well as being raised or lowered in the vertical
,,, ~, . .. . .
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1 direction. And when the carriage 2 is placed at the
home position, the cap unit engages and caps a
discharge portion 101 of the head unit. The
constitution of the cap unit 300 will be described
later in connection with Fig. 4.
Also, in the recovery unit, 401 is a blade
serving as the wiping member, and 403 is a blade
cleaner made of an absorbing material, for example,
for making the cleaning more complete. In this
example, the blade 401 is carried by a blade lifting
mechanism to be driven with the movement of the
carriage 2, and can be set at a position where the
blade is protruded (raised) for wiping and cleaning a
discharge port formation face portion, or at a
position where it is retracted (lowered) not to
interfere with the discharge port formation face
portion. In this example, when the carriage 2 is
moved from the right to left side in the figure, the
cleaning is performed with the wiping of the blade.
The lifting mechanism for the blade 401 will be
described later in connection with Fig. 2. Note that
if there is any portion above the discharge port
formation face of the head unit 100 which is not
wiped by the blade 401, an auxiliary blade (indicated
by the numeral 402 in Fig. 3) may be provided at a
position of wiping that portion.
Further, in the recovery unit 500 is a pump
2 ~ 8
- 27 -
1 unit leading to the cap unit 300, which is used to
produce a negative pressure in the suction process
which is effected by joining the cap unit 300 with
the head unit 100.
Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing a
detailed constitutional example of the recovery unit.
Such a recovery unit may be one as disclosed in
Japanese laid-Open Patent Application No. 2-126655
(convention application based on Japanese Laid-Open
Patent Application No. 1-122878) proposed by the
present applicant, and its constitution will be
briefly described below.
First, the cap unit 300 has a cap 302
enclosing the discharge port of the head unit 100, a
holder for holding the cap, an absorbing member for
receiving the ink in an idle discharge process and a
suction process, a suction tube 304 for sucking the
ink to be received, and a connection tube 305
communicating to the pump unit 500. The cap unit 300
is provided at a position corresponding to a
respective cartridge C by the same number as that of
cartridges (four in this example), and supported by
the cap holder 330.
332 and 334 are pins projected from the cap
holder 330, each pin engaging a respective one of cam
grooves 352 and 354 provided in a recovery unit base
350 for guiding the cap holder 330 in the left or
, . . .
2 ~
- 28 -
l right direction, and in the upper or lower direction,
as shown. A spring is tensioned between one pin 334
of the cap holder 330 and a start-up portion of
the recovery unit base 350, thereby urging the cap
holder 330 toward a position as shown in the figure,
that is, the cap holder may be held at a left end
lowered position. Note that with the cap holder 330
or cap unit 300 being placed at thi~ position, the
head unit 100 of the cartridge C mounted on the
carriage 2 is opposed to a start position of the
carriage 2 in recording for one scan.
342 is an engaging portion for engaging the
carriage 2 at a position rightward of the start
position, which is started up by the cap holder 330.
If the carriage 2 is moved further rightward in the
figure, the cap holder 330 is moved with the engaging
portion 342 against an urging force of the spring
360. Then the cap holder 330 is guided via the pins
332 and 334 along the cam grooves 352 and 354 to be
displaced right and upward. Therefore, the cap 302
is brought into close contact with the discharge
port face for the capping. Note that the position
of the carriage 2 for the capping is a recovery
position.
Note that the cap 302 is made of an elastic
material, including a securing portion for the
connection to the holder 303, and an edge portion
- 29 -
1 for extending a tubular structure from the securing
portion, which are integrally molded. The cap 302
can be formed of an elastic material such as silicone
rubber or butyl rubber.
Next, the lifting mechanism for the blade 401
will be described.
Referring to Fig. 4, 410 is a liftable blade
holder, on an upper portion of which a blade 401 is
attached with an appropriate fixture. The blade
holder 410 is urged toward a lower position by a
holder returning spring.
430 is a lock lever, rotatable around the
pin 414 projected from the blade holder 410, for
locking the blade holder 410 at a raised position by
lS engagement with an upper face of a stopper 432, this
lock lever being urged ln a clockwise direction in
; the figure by the spring 434. Also, in the state as
shown, it engages a portion 416 projected from the
blade holder 410 and is held at the position as
shown.
440 is a release lever, rotatable around the
pin 418 projected from the blade holder 410, for
releasing the lock state of the lock lever 430 when
the blade holder 410 is at the raised position,
wherein the lock is released by rotating it around
; the pin 418 in the clockwise direction as shown. That
is, the release lever 440 has pin (not shown~ erected,
~,_,.............
2 ~ 8
- 30 -
1 which is engageable with the lock lever 430, in which
if the release lever 440 is rotated around the pin
418 in the clockwise direction in the figure, the
pin 442 ca~ses the lock lever 430 to be rotated
around the pin 414, releasing the engagement between
the lock lever 430 and the upper face of the stopper
432.
450 is a cam member for transmitting the
driving force to raise the blade holder 410 with the
movement of the carriage 2, which is rotatably held
around the pin 370 projected from the recovery unit
base 350.
With the above mechanism, the blade 401 is
raised with a slide of the cap unit 300 by the
lS displacement of the carriage 2 in a right direction
as shown, and then caused to perform the wiping with
the leftward movement of the carriage 2 after the
suction recovery using the pump unit 500. In this
example, the ink wiped and received by the blade 401
is absorbed into an absorbing member provided on the
head unit, and a further absorbing member on the
carriage, causing no problems such as the color
mixture between heads, except that a part of the
ink may flow down along a surface of the blade 401.
This can be cleaned in the following manner.
When the carriage 2 is moved from the left,
the blade 401 is lowered. The blade cleaner 403 is
'' 2 ~ 8
- 31 -
1 being in contact with the blade 401, because the cap
unit 300 has already returned to its original
position with the blade cleaner 403 attached to the
cap unit 300. Therefore, when the blade 401 is
lowered, the ink adhering to its surface is all
received into the cleaner 403 in the form of
absorbing member, whereby the blade 401 can be wiped
surely.
Note that a blade portion engageable with the
discharge port formation face is cleaned with the
absorbing member on the head unit side as will be
described next and the absorbing member on the
carriage side, so that a part of the ink possibly
adhering will have no effect on the color mixture
between heads. Further, if the cleaning is
completely performed with the absorbing member on the
head unit side and the absorbing member on the
carriage side, the cleaner 403 may not be necessarily
provided.
In the above example, the recovery unit has
a mechanism for lifting the cap and the blade in
mechanical engagement with the carriage and with the
movement thereof, but another means for lifting them
may be provided, rather than the mechanical
engagement as above.
- 32 -
1 (3) Blade cleaning
(3.1) Action of absorbing member 104
The head unit 100 in Fig. 1 is provided with
an absorbing member 104 as the first absorbing member
adjacent to the discharge port formation face. In
this example, when the carriage 2 placed at a cap
position is moved leftward in the figure, the
discharge port formation face of one head is wiped
with the blade 401, and the absorbing member 104
provided on the same head engages and cleans the
blade 401, whereby it is possible to avoid
disadvantages such as the color mixture with the next
head, a phenomenon that the wiped ink is swept onto
the ink discharge face or flows around the head and
the carriage, or the pollution in exchanging the head
cartridge. The detail and action for this absorbing
member will be described below.
Figs. 5 and 6 are a cross-sectional view
and an enlarged perspective view of the recovery unit
in this example, looked from the front side (reverse
side of Fig. 3).
The head unit 100 is secured to the carriage
2, as above described, which is carried on a main
scan rail 11, and attached movably in a print
direction (direction of arrow C). For example, if
the discharge port lOlb of the head unit 100 may be
clogged, a holder 330 having caps 300 forming a
_ 33 _ 2~ 8
1 closed space in the head at the non-print position
((A) state in Fig. 5) is moved in a direction of
arrow a, so that the caps 303 are brought into
contact with the discharge faces 101a and stopped
at the position where the closed system is created.
In this state, the suction recovery is performed via
tubes 304 with a pump unit 500. The ink pulled out
from the head unit 100 due to the suction is
transported via a tube 508 into a waste ink
processing member 509. After the suction recovery,
the holder 330 having the caps 300 are retracted in
the direction of arrow b. At this time, the ink I
pulled out from the discharge port 101b with the
suction recovery may 1~- ai n on the discharge face
101a of the head unit 100. The carriage 2 ((A)
state) is moved in the direction of arrow c, and the
wiping for the discharge face 101a is performed with
the blade 401 carried by the blade holder 410 ((B) is
state in Fig. 5), whereby the ink I on the discharge
face 101a is removed from the discharge face 101a.
On the downstream side of wiping for the head
unit 100, the absorbing member 104 is secured one
onto each head of the head unit 100 by means of
adhesion or thermal caulking. In the head
constitution, a taper portion is formed adjacent to
~ the absorbing member 104 on the portion of the
;~ ~ discharge face 101a upstream of wiping with the
~:
.
20~31 ~8
- 34 -
1 absorbing member 104, whereby an edge portion of the
absorbing member is protruded therefrom.
The material of the absorbing member 104 is a
porous material of polyolefine having a property of
swelling little in absorbing the liquid (e.g., a
porous sintered compact of polyethylene treated
for the hydrophilization, having a swelling rate of
0.01 to 0.02~. Trade name: Sunfine AQ, made by
Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.)
The behavior of ink droplets in wiping will
be described below with reference to Figs. 7A and 7B.
Fig. 7 is a view enlarging the discharge
face portion as shown in Fig. 5. The adhering ink
I to the discharge face lOla with the suction
recovery is removed from the discharge face lOla by
the blade 401, with the movement of the carriage 2
in the direction of arrow c, and moved on a portion
of the discharge face lOla along with the blade 401
so as to be scraped off from the blade 401 when
coming into contact with an edge 104a of the
absorbing member 104 on the head side at the taper
portion lOlc formed on the discharge face lOla, with
the ink being once reserved in the taper portion
lOlc. Then the ink I' is immediately absorbed into
the absorbing member 104 (I' state of (a)) And the
carriage 2 is further moved in the direction of
arrow c, whereby the ink completely removed from
2~3~98
- 35 -
l the edge 401a of the blade 401 when the blade 401
arrives at the next head ((b) state). Hence, the ink
removed from the discharge face lOla has no effect on
the next head, causing no disadvantages such as the
color mixture, so that the wiping is enabled in the
state where the blade 401 has always a clean edge
401a.
The adhering ink to the blade 401 can be
excellently removed by providing the absorbing member
in the region adjacent to the head.
In this example, the ICs for storing the
information is mounted on the side of a recording
head substrate as in the example previously
described. The ICs may be destroyed if the ink
scattered with the cleaning operation sticks to them.
Accordingly, it is preferable to provide the
absorbing member on the substrate side where the ICs
are disposed.
It is more preferable that the ICs are
provided on the substrate side located downstream of
the head discharge port in the cleaning direction, in
cooperation with the blade cleaning effect as
previously described.
When the absorbing member is provided on the
2S reverse side of the ICs as in this example, the ICs
will not be broken with the scattering of the ink
because the blade can pass through a side face having
, .,
2 ~ ~ 3 ~ ~
- 36 -
1 the ICs before the head cleaning in cleaning a
plurality of heads in se~uence.
In this example, the head unit 100 is
constituted to have the taper portion lOlc of the
discharge face lOla adjacent to the absorbing member
104, but the same effects can be obtained if a groove
portion lOld may be formed on the discharge face lOla
adjacent to the absorbing member 104 as shown in Fig.
8.
The absorbing member 104 may be protruded
from the discharge face lOla as shown in Fig. 9,
rather than forming a recessed portion in the
discharge face. That is, the discharge face lOla
adjacent to the absorbing member 104 and located
upstream of the absorbing member 104 in the wiping
direction is recessed from the absorbing member 104,
which means that the same effects can be obtained if
the edge portion 104 of the absorbing member 104
protrudes. Further, a combination of both may be
used.
Further, in the example, the wiping is made
in the main scan direction (print direction), but the
same effects as in this example can be obtained if
the wiping is made in the vertical direction to the
mair. scan direction. This will be described later in
connection with Fig. 18.
The blade cleaning absorbing member 3 may be
2 ~
- 37 -
l disposed with a step at a position slightly recessed
from the discharge port face of the recording head
protruding downward of the carriage 2.
The ink jet recording apparatus may produce
while streaks or dark streaks in the image if the
position accuracy of discharged ink droplets
impinging onto a recording medium P is bad. One of
the measures for preventing such an image degradation
is to make smaller the spacing between the discharge
port face 1 of the recording head and the recording
medium P so as to have a smaller impining error of
ink droplets, thereby improving the image quality.
However, when the ink is discharged onto the
recording medium P, there occurs a great difference
of water content between a face of the recording
medium P onto which the ink is discharged and its
back face, or between a portion where the ink is
discharged and a portion where the ink is not
discharged and this difference of water content will
produce a difference of swelling rate, causing some
irregularities called as the cocking on the recording
medium P. Thereby if the spacing between them is too
small, a problem arises that the recording head and
the recording medium P may be placed into contact,
dirtying the recording face. Accordingly, it is
preferable to set the distance between the recording
head and the recording medium P as least as possible
2~9~9~
- 38 -
1 in a range where they are not scraped with the
cocking. Accordingly, the blade cleaning absorbing
member 3 disposed on a bottom portion of the carriage
2 can be provided flush with the recording head
protruding downward of the carriage 2, or spaced
farther away from the recording medium than from the
recording head. In particular, the blade cleaning
absorbing member 3 is quite likely to pollute the
recording medium P because of having a quantity of
absorbed ink, and thus preferable disposed at a
position recessed about 0.5 mm from the recording
head for the purpcse of assuring the safety.
(3.2) Dimensions of absorbing member
Here, the constitution of the absorbing
member will be described below.
First, with the above constitution, the
amount of ink to be transferred from the head unit
100 to the absorbing member 104 with the cleaning
operation will be described.
The ink jet head of this example has 128
discharge ports, and an image density of 400dpi. The
ink is supplied from the ink tank unit 200 formed
integrally with the head unit 100 as above described.
Here, the weight of ink received in the ink tank unit
200 is 60g, and the specific gravity of ink is l.OS.
The usable ink weight for the print is 40 to 50g.
' The residual amount of ink serves to inform the
:
,
2~9198
- 39 -
1 operator of the time for exchanging the ink cartridge
immediately before the stable discharge of ink is
disabled in such a manner as to dispose an electrode
pin for detecting the residual amount of ink within
the ink tank as above described, and detect the
change of resistance between electrodes with
decreased ink.
The printable number of sheets with the ink
tank unit will be described.
The normal print duty which is most
frequently used is 10% to 30% per head, and assuming
the weight of ink within the ink tank to be 60g (with
a usable weight of 40g to 50g), the printable number
of sheets is estimated to be from 300 to 1000 sheets.
For this estimation, the consumption amount of ink
includes the ink to be used for the print, the ink to
be used for the suction recovery, and the ink to be
used in performing the operation called as an idle
discharge or predischarge of effecting a certain
number of discharges through all discharge ports
before or after the print, or during the print (after
printing one line and before printing next one line)
for the purpose of holding the discharge state of
each nozzle steady, and after the cleaning operation
with the blade 401, and the printable number of 300
to 1000 sheets as previously cited was obtained by an
effective value measured in a print mode or recovery
:
2~
- 40 -
1 mode as will be described later.
The amount of ink to be transferred from the
head unit to the absorbing member 104 with the
cleaning operation of the blade 401 will be described
below.
The cleaning operation of the blade 401 is
largely classified into two types of:
(i) Cleaning the ink remaining on the head surface
in the suction recovery
~0 (ii) Cleaning the ink adhering to the head surface
with the print.
First, the amount of ink for the type (i) of
cleaning the ink rc ~;ning on the head surface in the
suction recovery will be described. The ink
remaining on the head surface with one time of
suction recovery operation amounts to 0.0003g to
0.0015g, including the ink remaining on the discharge
port and the ink (cap trace ink) remaining on a
portion (cap trace) of the head unit 100 contacted by
the cap 300. This value was obtained from
experimental values under the condition where the gap
between the discharge face lOla and the absorbing
member is 0.2 to 1 mm at the capping (suction), by
treating the head surface (discharge face lOla and
cap contact portion) and the cap 300 around the head
contact portion with the water repellent, and
disposing the absorbing member (not shown) within
- 41 - 2~
1 the cap 300-
The sequence of suction recovery may be set
such that one suction recovery is made every time a
predetermined number of sheets (e.g., ten sheets) is
printed. This is to prevent beforehand a phenomenon
of producing bubbles within a liquid chamber of the
head in the printing so as to block the liquid
chamber with the growth of bubbles and cause the
undischarge, with the suction recovery for every 10
sheets of print.
Hence, estimating the amount of ink to be
transferred into the head absorbing member in the
above sequence, the maximum is 0.0015g (MAX value of
residual ink) x 100 times (= print number of sheets
100 sheets/10 sheets) = 0.15g
the minimum is 0.0003g (MIN value of residual ink) x
30 times (= print number of sheets 300 sheets/10
;~ sheets) = O.OO9g
Next, the amount of ink in cleaning the
adhering ink to the head surface with the print in
(b) will be described. The amount of adhering ink
(called as the wet ink) to the head surface with the
print depends on the print duty, in which the amount
of wet ink is less with a lower print duty, and
increases gradually with higher duty, tending to
increase up to about 70 to lOQ% of the print duty,
as shown in Fig. 10. The amount of wet ink in
2~9~ ~8
- 42 -
1 printing one sheet of A4 size is 0.5 x 10 5g for a
print duty of 10~, and 1.5 x 10 5g for a print duty
of 30%.
The amount of wet ink varies with the gap
between the discharge face 101a and the recording
sheet (sheet gap), and tends to increase with a
narrower gap. Also, the amount of wet ink increases
in proportion to the number of discharge ports. Fig.
10 shows the value with 128 nozzles.
Assuming a sequence of cleaning once after
the printing of one sheet, the amount of ink to be
transferred to the absorbing member 104,
the maximum is 1.5 x 10 5g (wet ink amount for a
print duty of 30%) x 1000 times = 0.015g
15 the minimum is 0.5 x 10 5g (wet ink amount for a
print duty of 10%) x 300 times = 0.0015g
On the basis of the result from (i) and
(ii), the amount of ink to be transferred into the
absorbing member 104 with the cleaning is estimated
such that
the maximum is 0.15g (maximum value of (i)) + 0.015g
(maximum value of (ii)) = 0.165g
the minimum is 0.009g (minimum vlaue of (i))
0.0015g (minimum value of (ii)) = 0.0105g
As a result of the above calculation, it
follows that the absorbing member of the head must
hold the maximum amount of ink of 0.165g or more.
2 ~
- 43 -
1 The constitution of the absorbing member 104
will be described below.
The material may be arbitrary if it can
accomplish the ink absorption as previously
described, and may have the swelling nature.
However, the material of unswelling nature is
preferred from the standpoint of smaller apparatus
and no dripping of absorbed ink. That is, a porous
sintered compact of polyolefine treated for the
hydrophilization (trade name: Sunfine AQ, made by
Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) as previously
described having a very small swelling rate of 0.01%
to 0.02% is preferable. Hence, as the volume of
absorbing member hardly changes even if it absorbs
the ink, there is a merit that the absorbing member
can be used on a portion of strict precision. That
is, because of being mounted on the head in this
example, the absorbing member is effective to assure
the gap relative to the main scan carriage 2 in
mounting or demounting the head cartridge, or raise
the accuracy of gap between the absorbing member 104
and the recording sheet. Accordingly, the material
having the swelling nature can be also used, but due
to a very small space for the region of disposing the
absorbing member, there is a fear that the ink may
leak with its swelling in this region, whereby in
this respect, the unswelling material is more
2 ~ 9 ~
- 44 -
1 preferable. The liquid absorption rate of such an
absorbing material is 35% to 50%.
Next, the evaporation of ink will be
described. The evaporation of ink depends on the
environment. It is large in a low humidity
environment (e.g., a humidity of 10% or less), so
that all evaporable components of the ink will
evaporate. However, in a higher humidity environment
(e.g., a humidity of 80% or more), the evaporation
speed is slower, and the evaporation is less. In the
practical use, the dimensions of the absorbing member
must be determined based on the evaporation under
- high humidity environment. In this example, 80~ of
the ink will evaporate and 20~ will remain in the low
humidity environment, while 30% of the ink will
evaporate and 70% will remain in the high humidity
environment.
The dimensions of the absorbing member 104
are set on the basis of the above conditions.
The following relation will stand between
the volume of the absorbing member 104 and the amount
of ink to be passed from the head unit 100 to the
absorbing member 104.
Volume of head absorbing member: Arcm3]
Absorptivity of head absorbing member: B
Specific gravity of ink: C[g/cm3] (1.0 to 1.1)
2~198
- 45 -
1 Amount of ink passed from head to head
absorbing member: i[g]
Proportion of re~idual ink after evaporation: D
ABC > iD ............. (1)
A > iD/BC ............ (2)
The volume A of head absorbing member is obtained
from the expression (2).
(a) When A is largest
i = maximum value of A+B = 0.165g, D = value under
high humidity = 0.7, B = minimum value = 0.35, C =
minimum specific gravity of ink = 1.00,
A = (0.165 x 0.7)/(0.35 x 1.00)
= 0.33 [cm3]
(b) When A is smallest
lS i = minimum value of A+B = O.OlO5g, D = value under
low humidity = 0.2, B = maximum value = 0.5, C =
maximum specific gravity of ink = 1.1,
A = (0.0105 x 0.2)/(0.5 x 1.1)
= 0.004 [cm3]
(c) Minimum required volume A in this example
i = maximum value of A+B = 0.165g, D = value under
high humidity = 0.7, B = 0.35, C = 1.05,
A = (0.165 x 0.7)/(0.35 x 1.05)
= 0.31 [cm3]
Assuming that the ink capacity of the ink
cartridge is I[g] = 60[g] (the printable amount of
ink is 40 to 50g), the following relation will stand
2a~3 1 ~8
- 46 -
1 with the volume A of the head absorbing member.
(a) A/I > 0.33/60 = 11/2000
(b) A/I > 0.004/60 = 1/15000
(c) A/I > 0.31/60 ~ 1/200
That is, it is sufficient that the volume A
of the head absorbing member has 1/15000 or more the
ink capacity I in the best condition, and 11/2000 or
more in the worst condition.
The volume of head absorbing member in the
example is 0.34 to 0.4 [cm3~, which satisfies the
condition more fully than minimum required volume of
0.31 [cm3] in (c) in this example.
Next, the factor of determining the maximum
value of volume A for the absorbing member will be
described below. First, the maximum amount of the
ink in cleaning the residual ink on the head surface
with the suction recovery of (i) as above is
estimated. The suction recovery is performed once
per sheet. Therefore, the amount of ink is
0.0015g (MAX value of residual ink) x 1000 times =
1.5g
Further, by adding the mode of performing the suction
recovery with an instruction by the operator, when
the suction is performed once per sheet, the amount
Of ink is
0.0015g (MAX value of residual ink) x 1000 times =
1.5g
,,
2~3~t 9~
-- 47 --
Hence, the worst value in the case of (i) is
1.5g + 1.5g = 3g
Next, the maximum value of cleaning the
adhering ink to the head surface with the print in
5 (ii) is estimated. If the print is made with a print
duty of 100%, the amount of ink is
7 x 10 5g (wet amount with a print duty of 100%) x
1000 times = 0.07g
from Fig. 10~
The maximum value of ink weight i to be
passed into the absorbing member is
(i) + (ii) = 3g + 0.07g = 3.07g
Calculating the volume A of the head
absorbing member from this value, from i = 3.07g, D =
15 0.7, B = 0.35, and C = 1.00,
A = (3.07 x 0.7)/(0.35 x 1.00)
6.14 ~cm3]
A/I = 6.14/60 ~ 1/6
Hence, the volume A of the absorbing member
20 is desirably 6.14g or more, for which the relation
such that A/I is 1/6 or greater must hold. In the
practical design, in view of safety factor, it is
desirable to set the volume to be about twice the
above set value. That is,
25 6.14 x 2 = 12.28 [cm3]
A/I = 12.28/60 ~ 1/5
whereby there is no functional problem if A/I is
2 ~ 9 ~
- 48 -
1 set to be 1/5 or greater.
However, since the space around the head is
limited, with the cost increasing with larger volume
of the absorbing member itself, it is most preferable
that the volume is at minimum value in the range of
causing no functional problem, with the upper limit
of A being A/I = 1/5.
If the volume A of the head absorbing member
and the printable ink weight I* of ink cartridge are
considered, the following relation will stand,
maximum value A/I* < 12.28/40 ~ 3/10
minimum value A/I* > 0.004/50 = 1/12500
In this example, the dimensions of the head
absorbing member are the same through four heads,
but if the above condition is satisfied, the
dimensions of the absorbing member may be changed for
each head. This is because the amount of adhering
ink to the discharge face lOla during the print may
vary depending on the head position. If the print is
made in the direction of arrow C as shown in F1g. 5,
the amount of adhering ink to the head discharge face
lOIa with the print may increase in the order of head
array in the print direction. This is because more
downstream in the print direction, the density of
fine ink droplets floating in the space around the
head will increase during the print, whereby there
, ~ :
~ occurs~a phenomenon that a greater amount of ink will
,~,......... . . . . .
.
~-' "' ''' ' ' ' ' .'. ', ~ : '
'' - ' ~
-,
2~9~
- 49 -
1 adhere to the discharge face of the head located on
more downstream side. Hence, in accordance with this
behavior, the dimensions of the head absorbing member
can be determined to be different for each head in
a range of satisfying the above condition.
(3.3) Another example of disposing the absorbing
member
In the above example, the absorbing member
104 is provided on the head unit 100 so as to avoid
disadvantages such as the color mixture, but another
example of offering further effects will be described
below.
Figs. 11 and 12 are a cross-sectional view
and an enlarged perspective view of the recovery unit
in this example, seen from the front side,
respectively, wherein like numerals are attached to
like parts which are constituted in the same way as
in Figs. 5 and 6.
While in this example, the wiping is
performed in the process of the carriage movement
from state A to state B in the c direction, as shown
in Fig. ll, so as to clean the blade 401 with the
absorbing member 104, the ink possibly re -;n;ng on
the blade 401 is absorbed by an absorbing ~er 73
as the second absorbing member provided on the
carriage 2 so as to make a more complete cleaning of
the blade 401. Note that the absorbing member 73 can
~'
, .... .
2~3~ ~
- 50 -
1 be made of the same material as for the absorbing
member 104, and can be disposed in the same securing
manner.
The operation of this example will be
described with reference to Fig. 13.
The adhering ink I to the discharge face lOla
with the suction recovery is removed from the
discharge face lOla by the blade 401, with the
movement of the carriage 2 in the direction of arrow
c, and moved on the discharge face lOla along with
the blade 401 so as to be scraped off from the blade
401 when coming into contact with an edge 104a of the
absorbing member 104 for the head at a taper portion
lOlc formed in the discharge face lOla, with the ink
being once reserved in the taper portion lOlc. Then
the ink I' is immediately absorbed into the absorbing
member 104 (I' state of (a)). And if the carriage 2
is further moved in the direction of arrow c, the
blade 401 is moved while rubbing with the absorbing
member 73 of the carriage. Then the blade 401 is
moved while a slight amount of ink I" not removed
by the head absorbing member 104 is absorbed into the
absorbing member 73, whereby the ink is completely
removed from the edge 401a of the blade 401 when the
blade 401 arrives at the next head ((b) state~.
Hence, the ink ~ ed from the discharge face lOla
has no effect-on the next head, causing no troubles
2~198
- 51 -
1 such as the color mixture, so that it is possible to
make the wiping in the state where the edge 40la of
the blade 401 is always clean.
Note that the absorbing member 73 on the
carriage side should be as great as possible in a
limited space, because it can not be easily exchanged
though the head absorbing member 104 can be exchanged
integrally with the head. In other words, since -the
absorbing member on the head side can be periodically
refreshed, it suffices to be smaller by improving
durability of the absorbing member 73 on the carriage
side which is difficult to exchange, so that it is
possible to realize a smaller cartridge and
apparatus, with a reduced cost.
The desirable relation of the dimensions for
the absorbing members 104, 73 in this example is as
follows.
Fig. 14 is an explanation view for explaining
the relation of the dimensions for each portion, WN
indicating the width of range for the array of
discharge ports lOlb (including the so-called dummy
nozzle). WC is the width of the range lOle to be
covered by the cap 300, in which WN c WC as the group
of discharge ports lOlb should be located within the
space formed by the cap 300. Further, WB is the
width of the blade 401, in which it is greatly
desirable that the range lOle can be wiped
, .
- - ,
2~3~ ~8
- 52 -
l completely, considering that the ink droplets I may
often remain within the range lOle, and accordingly,
wC < ws. WH is the width of absorbing member 104
provided on the head unit lO0, in which W8 _ WH as it
cleans the blade 401 in contact therewith. Note that
the above relation will stand in the example as shown
in Figs. 5 and 6.
WK is the width of the absorbing member 73
provided on the carriage in this example, in which
WH < WK, considering that the ink not absorbed in
the process of cleaning the blade 401 with the
absorbing member 104 may possibly spread outward.
That is, in this example, the dimensions of each
portion are determined so that the relation of
WN < WC < WB < WH < WK may stand.
- Figs. 15 and 16 show still further two
; examples. They are head units of the almost same
shape as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, though the discharge
port lOlb is disposed in a recessed portion lOla'
of the discharge face for protecting the discharge
port lOlb.
For such a head, the relation as shown in
Fig. 17 can be adopted. That is, the discharge face
is formed of a cap contact face lOle and a recessed
:
~ 25 ~face portion lOla' to be wiped, in which the wiping
,i~ ~, : , : : ;
is performed with two blades of a first blade having
the width WBl for wiping the discharge port actually,
, ., ., ,~.. .
- '
- 53 -
1 and a second blade having the WB2 for wiping the cap
contact face outward thereof. The width of cap is
WC .
The following relation will stand between
the blade width WB' (maximum blade width formed of
WBl and WB2) and the cap wid-th WC.
WBl < WC, WN < WBl, but WB' > WC
That is, the blade width WBl for wiping the
periphery of discharge ports must be wider than the
width of the array of discharge ports WN, but no
necessarily wider than the cap width WC, in which
it is indicated that the maximum width WB' of the
first blade width WBl plus the second blade width
WB2 is sufficient to be wider than the cap width WC
in order to wipe out the cap trace.
It will be appreciated that the above
relation can equally apply to the head unit of the
shape as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 or Figs. 11 and 12,
with its discharge port disposed in the recessed
portion.
Moreover, the above example describes a
constitution that the wiping is made in the main
scan direction (print direction~, but the same
effects can be obtained even if the wiping is made in
an orthogonal direction e to the scan direction c.
This is the same even if the carriage 2 is provided
with the absorbing member 73.
~: :
'
. . .
2~1 9g
- 54 -
1 (3,4) Shape of discharge port and wiping direction
The relation between the shape of discharge
port and the wiping direction in this example will
be described, which is defined to prevent the
disadvantage such as a trouble of dusts returned
inward into discharge ports with the wiping, a
trouble of the ink pulled out from discharge ports,
and the color mixture. The wiping conditions in this
example have a rubber hardness of 65~ (JIS A), a
free length L = 9 mm, a penetrating amount into
the discharge port d = 1.5 mm, a thickness t = 0.7
mm, and a wiping speed v = 180 mm/sec, as the contact
conditions, and urethane rubber is as the material of
the blade 401.
In Fig. 19, the shape of the discharge port
for the head is trapezoidal (isosceles trapezoid in
this example) with a plurality of discharge ports
formed in the X direction in the figure.
:
For the trapezoid, with the axes X2, X3, Yl,
20 Y2, y3, Y4 passing through the vertices Pl, P4, P5,
P6, the trapezoid has the upper base a, the lower
base b and the height (b-a) (where b > a). Note
that the angle made by (P5) (Pl) (P2) is 60~, and
the angle made by (Pl) (P5) (P6) is 30~.
Next, considering Xl as the axis in the
direction perpendicular to the wiping direction CC
(opposite direction to the carriage moving direction
:.
~,:
'~
, .... .
2 ~ 8
- 55 -
1 C in Figs. 5 and 11 in the apparatus of this
example), it can be found that the trapezoidal shape
of the discharge port is in line symmetry with
respect to this axis. The Xl axis is equal to the X2
axis (referred to as a separation axis) at the
maximum of Xl intercepted by the periphery of the
discharge port (maximum width b), resulting in two
line segments being intercepted at the intersections
Pl and P4 between the X2 axis and the periphery of
the discharge port (a line segment forming the
contour). One of them is a line segment passing from
Pl through P2, P3 to P4 (referred to as a peripheral
length component 1, the length Ll = b), and the other
is a line segment passing from Pl through P5, P6 to
lS p4 (referred to as a peripheral length component 2,
the length L2 = a+ ~ (b-a)). The relation between
the peripheral length components 1, 2 is Ll < L2.
In this example, the wiping is made in the
CC direction for the discharge port as shown in Fig.
19, whereby it is possible to reduce the
contamination of dust, the amount of ink pulled out
from the discharge port, and the color mixture.
The relation between the wiping direction
and the shape of the discharge port for producing
such effects will be described in detail.
(i) The expected amount of contamination
into the discharge port, when dusts (dust or paper
.
2~9~ ~
- 56 -
1 power) or thickened or fixed ink adhering to the
periphery of discharge port are wiped with the blade,
depends on the wiping direction. That is, the amount
of dusts or thickened or fixed ink adhering to the
periphery of discharge port is proportional to the
peripheral length of discharge port, and the
contamination of foreign matters into the discharge
port is greatest when the blade passes through the
maximum width of discharge port in the moving
direction of the blade. It tends to increase with
a larger peripheral length of discharge port up to
making contact with the inside of discharge port,
in the process that the blade makes contact with the
inside of discharge port after coming into contact
with the peripheral length of discharge port.
In Fig. 19, the contamination of dusts or
thickened or fixed ink (thereinafter referred to as
impurities) into the discharge port corresponds to
the amount of Ll (=b) when cleaning in the wiping
direction CC, while the contamination of impurities
occurs by the amount of L2 (= a+ ~ (b-a)) when
cleaning in the opposite direction, in which more
, ~ ,
;~ ~ impurities are entered by a differential amount of
impurities (L2 - Ll - a-b+ ~3(b-a)).
(b) A phenomenon in which the blade 104
penetrates into the discharge port lOlb, making
contact with the meniscus M of the ink formed within
~, ,
~_,,~
:
2 ~ 8
- 57 -
1 the discharge port when the blade is moved, and
pulling the ink adhered to the blade out of the
discharge port (the amount of pulling out the ink
may vary with the surface tension of the ink itself
and the water repellent property of the blade)
depends on the wiping direction. That is, the length
of the blade in contact with the discharge port when
the blade 104 passes through the discharge port is
related to the amount of pulling out the ink, which
tends to increase with a greater peripheral length of
the discharge port in parallel to the blade. Also,
the amount of pulling out ink is related to the
wiping speed and the penetrating amount of the blade
into the discharge port, in which the amount of
pulling out the ink will decrease with a larger
speed, but at the same time the wiping performance
fl~n~ tal for the wiping tends to decrease. And
the amount of pulling out the ink will decrease with
a larger penetrating amount, while the wiping
performance tends to decrease. That is, the amount
of pulling out the ink is greatly related to the
contact condition with the blade, but it is desirable
that the extension of the contact condition will be
'
permitted if the wiping direction is defined as in
~th1s example.
:
In Fig. 19, the blade into comes contact with
he length a (in proportion to the amount of adhering
,: ::: : :
.~,...........
2~198
- - 58 -
1 ink) upon the separation from the discharge port, for
the cleaning in the wiping direction CC, while it
comes into contact with the length b for the cleaning
in the reverse direction, with a greater amount of
pulling out the ink, wherein more ink is pulled out
by a difference amount of (b-a). In Figs. 21A and
2lB, the pulling out of the ink is shown in the same
wiping direction as in this example, and its reverse
direction.
(c) Due to the same phenomenon as described
in (b), the amount of adhering ink to the blade will
increase with a greater amount of pulling out the
ink, in which the ink of different color is passed
to the head downstream in the wiping direction, with
the movement of the head, and the color mixture
occurs in making contact with the inside of discharge
port again. As this phenomenon is the same as in
(b), the explanation is omitted.
Fig. 22 is a view for explaining another
example. In this example, the constitution of a
simple head and the wiping direction will be
described.~
~' :
Fig. 22A is a cross-sectional constitutional
~; ~ view of the head, and Fig. 22B is an elevational view
of the head, illustrating the shape of a discharge
port l}lb~. The head is constituted such that a
base plate 111' of aluminum has a silicone chip laid
i
2~31~
- 59 -
1 thereon, on which a heater board 112' formed of
heater or semiconductor is provided. A common liquid
chamber 813 and a groove for forming a liquid channel
815 are provided thereon, with a grooved ceiling
plate 113' of PSF (polysulfone) having integrally
a discharge port formation plate being pressed
against a silicone chip with the same spring 114
as previously described. Note that the base plate
111' and the ceiling plate 113' are joined inclinedly
at an angle ~ = 15~. The wiping direction of the
blade is in the CC direction as shown. The shape
of discharge port is fundamentally trapezoidal, with
rounded corners. They serve to separate the ink from
the discharge port lllb' as well as reducing the
resistance of flow passage, thereby raising the
characteristics of discharging. The reason why the
shape of discharge port for the head is wider on the
heater side is that the structure of flow passage
inward of the discharge port may offer the bubbling
~20 stability owing to the trapezoidal shape and that the
unsteadiness is prevented in boring the discharge
port in the ceiling plate with the laser.
Next, the relation between the head structure
,
of this example and the wiping direction will be
described in detail. Fig. 23 is an enlargement of
Fig. 22, showing the relation of forces to be exerted
, ~ ,
~ by the blade in wiping. If the wiping is made in
: ~,
,.,..,.,.~: ~
~ ,
2~3~8
_ 60 _
1 the direction as shown, the combined force f' of a
blade pushing force f and a frictional force ~N is
applied to force the grooved ceiling plate to be
moved in the direction of the combined force. In
the wiping direction of this example, gap2 is forced
to be narrower, while gap2 is forced to be wider in
the opposite wiping direction. Here, the gapl and
gap2 will be described. The gapl is involved in the
crosstalk (escaping of bubbling power) in the array
direction (between adjacent liquid channels), while
the gap2 is involved in the crosstalk on the front
side of one channel, in either of which the crosstalk
is greater with a wider gap. The crosstalk causes
some trouble such as irregular discharge speed,
unsteady discharge amount, deflection or undischarge
to occur. The gapl is designed to be always constant
with a spring load from the upper side, while the
gap2 relies on a frictional force between the grooved
ceiling plate and the silicone chip, and thus is
likely to vary. Accordingly, it is desirable to make
the wiping with the method of this example.
Fig. 24 is a view for explaining another
example. Fig. 24A shows a discharge port of
triangular shape, and Fig. 24B shows a discharge port
. . .
of pentagonal shape. On the basis of the same
concept of the above example, the wiping direction
is CCl in Fig. 24A and CC2 in Fig. 24B.
, -,~, ~ . ~ - :
, ,~ " ~
_ ,~.,,, ,.~,....
.
- -
- 61 - 2~31~8
1 Note that the above example is described in
connection with the polygon, but is also applicable
to the curved configuration.
In this way, it is possible to maintain the
function of cleaning blade steady at all times by
causing the blade to rub against the absorbing member
disposed on the recording head or the carriage.
However, in an instance where the absorbing
member is disposed in recessed portion of the
discharge port face of the recording head so as not
to cause the absorbing member to swell with the
absorption of the ink and make contact with the
recording sheet, the adhering ink to the blade can
not be completely absorbed.
This point will be described with reference
to Fig. 25. Fig. 25 shows how to remove the ink on
the discharge port face, with the blade 401 being
moved relatively, in contact with the discharge port
face 1 across a certain widtb, but in an apparatus of
the type in which the ink is discharged downward in
the gravitational direction, the wiped and gathered
ink is likely to flow along the blade 401 downstream
in the gravitational direction, so that the polluted
width of the blade 401 due to the ink may extend over
a wide area beyond the width in contact with the
discharge port face 1.
Then, the adhering ink to the blade 401 will
,
- 62 - 2~91~
1 be removed by making contact with the blade cleaning
absorbing member 3, as shown in Fig. 25, but the
blade cleaning absorbing member 3 can not be placed
at the position projected from the discharge port
face 1, and is set to be recessed about 0.5 mm from
the discharge port face for the safety, so that the
penetrating amount of the blade 401 into the blade
cleaning absorbing member is smaller than that into
the discharge port face 1. As a result, the blade
cleaning absorbing member 3 can absorb the ink at a
top end of the blade 401, or in an area in contact
with the absorbing ~ ~sr, but the ink remaining
beyond that area is left in the blade 401. In the
early times of use, it is permissible to ignore any
disadvantages on the discharge characteristics
a~ffecting the image quality, such as deflection or
undischarge and the color mixture, even if the wiping
, :
~ is made for the discharge port face 1 of the next
::
- :
recording head while a slight amount of ink may
20 ~ i n below the width in contact with the discharge
port face, but in the long term service, residual ink
may:evaporate to be thickened and fixed, and
gradually deposited together with dùsts such as paper
powdèr, so that such deposits may reduce the wiping
~per~formance of the blade and affect the discharge
characteristics or the image quality.
Thereby, there is provided a mode in which
,.. _.~,.,-,- , - :
-
~0~ 98
- 63 -
1 the cleaning is made over the entire area of adhering
ink.
The blade cleaning mode will be described
with reference to Fig. 26. In the blade cleaning
mode, the blade 401 is projected from a wiping
position in the Y direction, and set at a position
where the penetrating amount into the blade cleaning
absorbing member 3 is deeper than that at the normal
wiping, or twice or more in this example. And the
carriage 2 is moved from left to right side, and the
blade is lowered to a waiting position when the
carriage has passed therethrough, and then the
carriage is returned to a home position. By doing
so, the contact area between the blade 401 and the
blade cleaning absorbing member 3 can be extended,
80 that it is possible to clean the portion which
:
can not be wiped at the normal wiping. This
operation is performed once, but preferably twice
,
' or more in succession for further effects.
Note that the penetrating amount of the blade
is not limited to twice, but may be about 1.5 to 4
times as the practical range as it is only necessary
~ : ,
to wipe the adhering ink to the blade excellently.
If~the absorbing member is disposed on a side
~ , :
2~5~ face of the discharge port formation face of the
recording head, particularly, on the upstream side in
the wlping d1receion, as shown in Fig. 27, the
~,
,,. . ~: '
' . : ' '
.
-
20~198
- 64 -
1 adhering ink to the blade can be scraped off with
its edge portion more completely, so that a more
reliable wiping can be accomplished.
If the normal wiping operation or
predischarge is performed after the blade cleaning
operation in order to improve the reliability, the
influence of the ink on the head which has been wiped
before can be almost eliminated, and an excellent
recording can be made.
Various conditions in this example are shown
below.
Blade: thickness 0.7 mm + 0.1
width 12~0 mm + 0.1
free length 8.0~mm-+ 0.1
5~ penetrating amount at wiping (lnto discharge
port face~ l.S mm + 0.5
penetrating~amount at blade cleaning (into
discharge port ~ace~
4.0 mm~+ 0.5
carriag- moving speed: at wlplng ~ 200 mm/sec+30
'" ~ at ~c~leaning 100 mm/sec+30
Used L~colding ~head:~ 400 dpi ~ 128 nozsles
Seuq~énce'in wiping oporation~ ~ ;
for~every recording for one sheet of A4
~b~ 2~5~ ~Seq~e~ce~in~blade;cleaning mode:~ ~
~ for every recording for lQO sheets of A4
3~ Tëst~envi~ t~ hi t~
~ (35 C~10%)
~ :,
~, ;
-'~:,:
!9 ~ 9
-- 65 --
l In connection with the wiping speed, the
wiping effect or the ink absorbing effect may
decrease with a faster speed, particularly due to
slippage, but it is confirmed that there is no
problem below 300 mm/sec. It is preferable that the
cleaning speed is slower than at the normal wiping.
This is because the adhering ink to the blade is
absorbed into the absorbing member more slowly as it
is thickened due to the evaporation. The test
environment was in a severe condition having a
quantity of discharging the ink with the wet ink in
a low humidity environment at high temperature, in
dryness, and easy to evaporate.
In the above conditions, an endurance test
for 5000 sheets of A4 size was performed, with the
amount of wet ink on the discharge port face of the
head being set at -xi with the all black
; recording at a recording ratio of 100%, so that there
occurred no discharge failure such as deflection or
undischarge.
On the contrary, an endurance test, excluding
the sequence of blade cleaning mode, among the above-
mentioned conditions, was performed, so that a
discharge failure appeared after several hundreds of
; 25 sheets,
In this way, by providing the blade cleaning
mode, a great imp~val~~t in the endurable number of
- 66 - ~9~~'~
1 sheets can be achieved.
While the color recording using four ink jet
cartridges for the carriage 2 was described in this
example, this number is not limited in particular,
but a single or any other number of recording heads
can be mounted. In the color image recording, there
is a specific problem of the color mixture, but the
present invention can also resolve that problem, and
exhibit a great effect in the color recording.
If the wiping is made for the discharge port
face 1, a top face 401b of the blade 401 is also
polluted, which causes a trouble of degrading the
wiping performance called as the unwiping. This
tendency will appear significantly with the wiping
of the type of making the cleaning in contact with
the discharge port face, particularly in both
directions.
Accordingly, it is also necessary to clean
the top end face 401b of the blade. This example
offers a blade cleaning method effective in this
case. In the blade cleaning mode, the blade cleaning
abso~rbing - ~or 3 is reciprocated in the forward and
,
backward directions, with thè blade 401 being in
; contact with the blade cleaning absorbing member 3,
25~ as shown in Fig. 27. Then the blade works in the
reYersal behavior as shown in solid and broken lines,
; in which the~top~end face 401b is placed into contact
:
,: ~
- 67 - 20~ 8
1 with the blade cleaning absorbing member 3
temporarily, and thereby cleaned. With this cleaning
operation, it is preferable that the penetrating
amount of the blade is shallower than at the normal
wiping operation, because the reversal behavior is
less likely to occur with larger penetrating amount.
This third example can exhibit a greater effect in
combination with the first or second example.
In the described examples, the penetrating
amount can be changed by lifting the blade, but if
there is a sufficient space, the same action and
effect can be obtained by lifting the carriage, or
lifting both, as long as the positional relations
between the blade, the blade cleaning absorbing
member and the discharge port face are the same.
The absorbing member for absorbing the
adhering ink to the cleaning blade, excellent in the
cleaning characteristics, may degrade in the ink
absorbing characteristic with a greater absorption of
the ink, and lack in the reliability in a long term.
In the Iong term service, there occur disadvantages
that foreign matters such as paper powder or dusts
' and the thickened ink are deposited on a surface of
the absorbing member to decrease the cleaning
performance significantly, and further such foreign
; matters on the absorbing member may be retransferred
~ ~ to the blade.
:: ~
- 68 - 2~31~8
1 And there is a fear that the ink may adhere
to a cap for use in the discharge recovery process
and be retransferred to the head face every time the
wiping is made for the head using the blade, causing
the head face dirty, and the ink, if thickened, is
not only difficult to remove with the wiping, but
also the thickened ink is forced into the nozzle,
causing a discharge failure.
Thus, this example has proposed that the
blade and the cap member are cleaned by the use of
a cleaning dedicated head mountable on the carriage
of a similar shape to the recording head and having
the cleaning function.
This cleaning dedicated head has preferably
a porous absorbing member, which absorbs unnecessary
ink with the blade and the cap rubbing and pressing
against the absorbing member for the cleanlng,
thereby preventing the degradation in the performance
of recovery means.
; 20 ~ ~ More preferably, the washing is impregnated
; lnto the absorbing member of the cleaning dedicated
head, to thereby remove perslstent dirts adhering
to the blade and the cap, and further improve the
cleanlng effect, so that the good performance of
25~ recovery means can be maintained for a long term.
; Fig. 28 shows a cleaning dedicated cartridge
: ,
~ of recovery unit in the present invention. This is
:
. ';
2û~31 98
- 69 -
1 one in which a recording head portion of ink jet
cartridge C is replaced with an absorbing member.
This is of the shape similar to the ink jet
cartridge, and mountable on the carriage. This
absorbing ~ember portion is used to make the cleaning
for the recovery unit, particularly, the cap portion
and the blade portion. The absorbing member portion
slightly projects toward the recovery unit side to
facilitate the cleaning for the recovery unit.
Using this cleaning dedicated cartridge, a
recovery unit cleaning mode is provided to
periodically clean the blade 401 and the cap.
The recovery unit cleaning mode will be
described below. In the recovery unit cleaning mode,
the recording head cartridge is first demounted from
the carriage, and the cleaning dedicated cartridg~
i8 mounted instead.
The blade 401 is further projected from a
wiping position in the Y direction, and set at a
position where the per.etrating amount into the blade
cleaning absorbing member 3 is deeper than that at
the normal wiping. And the carriage 2 is moved from
left to right side, and the blade 401 is lowered to a
waiting position when the carriage has passed
2S;~ therethrough, and the carriage 2 is returned to a
home position and c~ppe~. By doing so, the contact
area between the blade 401, the blade cleaning
. ,.. ~ . :
2~9198
- 70 -
1 absorbing member 3 and the absorbing member portion
of the cleaning dedicated cartridge can be extended,
so that it is possible to clean the portion unwiped
at the normal wiping. This operation is performed
once, but may be preferably performed twice or more
in succession for further effects.
Note that if the capping is made with the
cleaning dedicated cartridge mounted, unnecessary ink
adhering to the cap can be absorbed into the
absorbing member of the cleaning dedicated cartridge
to thereby realize a cleaner state.
Various conditions in this example are shown
below.
Blade: thickness 0.7 mm + 0.1
- 15 width 12.0 mm + 0.1
free length 8.0 mm + 0.1
penetrating amount at wiping
(into discharge port face)
1.5 mm + 0.5
penetrating amount at blade cleaning
(into discharge port face)
4.0 mm + 0.5
Carriage moving speed: 200 mm/sec~30
Used recording head: 400dpi 128 nozzles
~25 Sequence in wiping operation: for every recording
for one sheet of A4
, ~.
- - \
- 71 - 2 ~5 ~l ~8
l Cleaning for recovery unit: for every recording for
lO0 sheets of A4
Test environment: high temperature/low humidity
(35~C/10%)
In connection with the wiping speed, the
wiping effect or the ink absorbing effect may
decrease with a faster speed, particularly due to
slippage, but it is confirmed that there is no
problem below 300 mm/sec. The test environment was
in a severe condition with a quantity of discharging
the ink and a quantity of wet ink, that is, in a low
humidity environment at high temperature, in dryness
and easy to evaporate.
In the above conditions, an endurance test
for 30000 sheets of A4 size was performed, with the
amount of wet ink being set at maximum with the all
black recording at a recording ratio of lO0~, so that
there occurred no discharge failure such as
deflection or undischarge. Also, the suction
performance after the endurance test showed that
it was hardly changed from the performance before
the endurance test~
The use of the recovery unit cleaning
dedicated cartridge allows a great improvement in the
endurable number of sheets and the preservation of
the performance in the recovery unit over a long term
service.
2~31 ~8
- 72 -
1 While this example was described using four
ink jet cartridges for the carriage 2, this number
is not particularly limited, but a single or any
other number of recording heads can be mounted~
The shape of the absorbing member for the
cleaning dedicated head is particularly not limited,
but any shape with improved cleaning capability such
as the shape having irregular surface, the shape to
be easily scraped, or the shape enclosing an abutting
portion of the cap which is easily polluted, may be
used.
The recovery unit cleaning dedicated
cartridge of another form will be described below.
This is one in which the recovery liquid for
; 15 dissolving the thickened or fixed ink is contained
in a tank portion of the cleaning dedicated
cartridge, communicating to the absorbing member,
~which is also impregnated with the recovery liquid.
he~recovery liquid is not particularly limited as
long as nonvolatile matters contained in the ink are
~ easy to dissolve. The thickened ink has a high
; ~ viscosity and is absorbed relatively slowly into the
;~ absorbing member. Further if it is solidified, it
,
is hardly absorbed into the absorbing member. Thus,
by soaking a solution for dissolving the thickened
or~solid ink into the absorbing member, the thickened
,:
~ ink~adhering to the blade and the cap is made to be
~ -
2~3~98
1 easily dissolved and absorbed.
If the thickened ink on the cap and the blade
is placed into contact with the dissolving liquid
within the absorbing member, the density difference
of the ink may occur, the thickened ink tending to
spread into the inside of the absorbing member having
less density, so that the ink on the cap and the
blade can be removed.
The present invention brings about excellent
effects particularly in a recording head or a
recording device comprising means (e.g., electricity-
heat converter or laser beam) for generating a heat
energy as the energy for use in discharging the
ink, and causing the state of ink to be changed with
the heat energy, among the various ink jet recording
systems. With such a method, the higher density and
higher resolution of recording can be obtained.
As to its representative constitution and
principle, for example, one practiced by use of the
basic principle disclosed in, for example, U.S.
Patents 4,723,129 and 4,740,796 is preferred. This
system is applicable to either of the so-called
on-demand type and the continuous type.
Particularly, the case of the on-demand type is
effective because, by applying at least one driving
signal which gives rapid temperature elevation
exceeding nucleus boiling corresponding to the
20~3198
1 recording information on electricity-heat converters
arranged corresponding to the sheets or liquid
channels holding a liquid (ink), heat energy is
generated at the electricity-heat converters to
effect film boiling at the heat acting surface of the
recording head, and consequently the bubbles within
the liquid (ink) can be formed corresponding one by
one to the driving signals. By discharging the
liquid (ink) through an opening for discharging by
growth and shrinkage of the bubble, at least one
droplet is formed. By making the driving signals
into pulse shapes, growth and shrinkage of the bubble
can be effected instantly and adequately to
accomplish more preferably discharging of the
lS liquid (ink) particularly excellent in response
characteristic. As the driving signals of such
pulse shape, those as disclosed in U.S. Patents
4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further
excellent recording can be performed by employment
of the conditions described in U.S. Patent 4,313,124
of the invention concerning the temperature elevation
rate of the above-mentioned heat acting surface.
.
As the constitution of the recording head,
in addition to the combination of the discharging
orifice, liquid channel, and electricity-heat
converter (linear liquid channel or right-angled
liquid channel) as disclosed in the above-mentioned
: :
2~591 98
1 respective specifications, the constitution by use
of U.S. Patent 4,558,333 or 4,459,600 disclosing
the constitution having the heat acting portion
arranged in the flexed region is also included in
the present invention. In addition, the present
invention can be also effectively made the
constitution as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No. 59-123670 which discloses the
constitution using a slit common to a plurality of
electricity-heat converters as the discharging
portion of the electricity-heat converter or Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461 which
discloses the constitution having the opening for
absorbing pressure wave of heat energy correspondent
lS to the discharging portion. With the present
invention, the recording can be made assuredly and
efficiently whatever form the recording head may
take.
Further, the present invention is also
effectively applicable to the recording head of the
full lioe type having a length corresponding to the
maximum width of a recording medium which can be
recorded by the recording device. As such a
recording head, either the constitution which
satisfies its length by a combination of a plurality
of recording heads or the constitution as one
reGording head integrally formed may be used.
", . . .
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1 In addition, among the serial types in the
above example, the present invention is also
effective for a recording head secured to the main
device, a recording head of the freely exchangeable
chip type which enables electrical connection to the
main device or supply of ink from the main device by
being mounted on the main device, or a recording head
of the cartridge type having an ink tank integrally
provided on the recording head itself.
Also, addition of a restoration means for the
recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc.
provided as the constitution of the recording device
of the present invention is preferable, because the
effect of the present invention can be further
stabilized. Specific examples of these may include,
for the recording head, capping means, cleaning
means, pressurization or suction means, electricity-
heat converters or another type of heating elements,
or preliminary heating means according to a
combination of these, and it is also effective for
performing stable recording to perform preliminary
mode which performs discharging separate from
recording.
Further, as the type of the recording head to
be mounted and the number of heads, the present
invention is effective to a single recording head
provided corresponding to the monocolor ink or a
2~31~8
1 plurality of recording heads provided corresponding
to a plurality of inks having different recording
colors or densities, for example. That is, as the
recording mode of the recording device, the present
invention is extremely effective for not only the
recording mode only of a primary color such as black
etc., but also a device equipped with at least one
of plural different colors or full color by color
mixing, whether the reGording head may be either
integrally constituted or combined in plural number.
Though the ink is considered as the liquid
in the examples of the present invention as described
above, the present invention is applicable to either
of the solid or soft ink at room temperature. With
the above ink jet device, as it is common to control
the viscosity of ink to be maintained within a
certain range for stable discharge by adjusting the
temperature of ink in a range from 30~C to 70~C, it
is necessary that the ink is in a liquid state when a
recording enable signal is issued. In addition, in
order to avoid the temperature elevation due to the
hèat energy by positively utilizing it as the energy
for the change of state from solid to liquid, or to
prevent the evaporation of ink by using the solid
ink in the shelf state, the present invention is also
effectively applicable to the ink having a property
ot liquefying only with the appli~ation of heat
.. : , , ,
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'
2 ~ 8
- 78 -
1 energy so that the ink liquefies with the application
of heat energy in accordance with a recording signal
and is discharged as the liquid ink, or the ink
already solidifies when reaching a recording medium.
In this case, the ink may be in the form of being
held in recesses or through holes of porous sheet as
liquid or solid matter, and opposed to electricity-
heat converters, as described in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No. 54-56847 or Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No. 60-71260. The most
effective method for inks as above described in the
present invention is one based on the film boiling
as above indicated.
As above described, it is possible to prevent
adverse effects on the semiconductor device or
electrical connections due to the scattering of the:
ink, and fabricate a reliable recording apparatus in
such a manner as to
1) provide an ink absorbing member in the vicinity
of the ink discharge port on the mounting side of the
semiconductor device within the head.
2) provide a semiconductor storage device and
electrical connections to the external of the head
at a position 30 mm away from the ink discharge
portion as the structure of recording head.
With the present invention, it is possible
to maintain the stable wiping characteristic at all
-''' 20~3198
1 times because there is no deposition of thickened or
fixed ink on the blade by providing the blade
cleaning mode in which the penetrating amount of
the blade into the blade cleaning absorbing member
is deeper than at the normal wiping.
Further, according to the present invention,
by determining the wiping direction suitable for
the shape of discharge port, an ink jet recording
head having the discharge ports of complex or special
shape in consideration of the stabilization of
discharge characteristics, and the liquid channels,
makes it possible to reduce dust or thickened ink
returning inward to the discharge port with the
wiping, as well as the amount of pulling out the ink
from the discharge port in wiping, and prevent the
color mixture in wiping a plurality of heads, so that
the image quality can be stabilized with stabler
discharge characteristics of the head and an improved
reliability, and without almost recording deflection
.
; ~ 20 or undischarge. In particular, when the discharge
port is formed as a polygon (or a polygon having
rounded corners), there is a great effect in wiping
the ink jet recording he'ad.
Further, according to the present invention,
25~ it i8 possible to clean the wiping - 'er in such a
manner as to cause the wiping member to engage an
absorbing member disposed in the vicinity of the
::
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2~1 98
- 80 -
1 discharge portion of recording head, after wiping
the discharge portion, or an absorbing member
provided on a head mount such as carriage. Also,
it is possible to perform the absorbing operation
of the ink more securely if the absorbing member
on the head side is made convex, and/or an end face
portion on the discharge portion is made concave.
Accordingly, as impurities having the adverse
effect on the head such as dust or thickened or
fixed ink adhering to the wiping member or cap can be
removed beforehand, and efficiently, an excellent
effect can be exhibited against conventional troubles
such as a trouble of the ink accumulating in the gap
between head and carriage, a trouble of the ink swept
in wiping, the color mixture in wiping a plurality
of heads, the pollution of the operator in exchanging
the cartridge head, with an improved durability and
print characteristic.
Also, according to the present inventian, it
is possible to clean the wiping member in such a
manner as to cause the wiping member to engage the
absorbing member, after wiping the discharge portion,
with the absorbing member disposed adjacent to the
discharge portion of recording head.
Accordingly, as impurities having the adverse
effect on the head such as dust or thickened or fixed
ink adhering to the wiping member or cap can be
20~91 ~8
- 81 -
1 removed beforehand, and efficiently, an excellent
effect can be exhibited against conventional troubles
such as a trouble of the ink accumulating in the gap
between head and carriage, a trouble of the ink swept
in wiping, the color mixture in wiping a plurality
of heads, the pollution of the operator in exchanging
the cartridge head, with an improved durability and
print characteristic.
Further, in the present invention, by making
clear the swelling rate and the liquid absorbing
rate of absorbing member provided on the head, as
well as the relation between the ink weight within
the ink tank, the recordable ink weight, and the
dimensions of ab~orbing member, it is possible to
derive the optimum condition for the size, function,
and cost on the constitution for the absorbing
member.
Further, according to the present invention,
it is possible to clean the wiping member in such a
manner as to determine the dimensions of each portion
appropriately, and cause the wiping member to engage
an absorbing member disposed in the vicinity of the
discharge portion of recording head, after wiping
the discharge portion, or an absorbing member
provided on a head mount such as carriage.
Accordingly, as impurities having the adverse
effect on the head such as dust or thickened or fixed
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2~31 98
- 82 -
1 ink adhering to the wiping member or cap can be
removed beforehand, and efficiently, an excellent
effect can be exhibited against conventional troubles
such as a trouble of the ink accumulating in the gap
between head and carriage, a trouble of the ink
swept in wiping, the color mixture in wiping a
plurality of heads, the pollution of the operator
in exchanging the cartridge head, with an improved
durability and print characteristic.
Further, according to the present invention,
by cleaning the recovery unit periodically using the
cleaning dedicated head for the recovery unit, an ink
jet recording apparatus can be realized in which the
recording unit can be cleaned and recovered properly
lS and stably even if the recovery unit becomes dirty
in the unrecoverable stàte, while preventing the
performance of the recovery unit from degrading, and
maintaining the performance over a long term.
